Knitted terry fabrics



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KNITTED TERRY FABRICS Filed July 12, 1952 lo Sheets-Sheet 4 v //7 vmor:

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KNITTED TERRY FABRICS Filed July 12, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 whee/7f Lombardi Dec. 18, 1956 v. LOMBARDI KNITTED TERRY names 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 12, 1952 @wmw m Wm k luwl mw m VmH A y. m MW 6 Wm m @wwwkvmwm w g, wmhwnwn K 1 U m Affjz Dec. 18, 1956 v. LOMBARDI 2,774,233

KNITTED TERRY FABRICS Filed July 12, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 F7929 06a 75474 M4064 my 4224/99 Md 4 26/ w 18, 1956 v. LOMBARDI 2,774,333

KNITTED TERRY FABRICS Filed July 12, 1952 1o Sheets-Sheet 9 limited States This invention relates to knitted fabric.

Terry cloth fabrics have a wide field of usefulness including situations where the terry loops serve as loose pilings, where they are brushed to provide relatively smooth heavy surfacing, where they are utilized to seal and protect the base fabric, and where they are used to provide design efiects. However, the demands of the practical art are many and varied, and the types of terry cloth heretofor provided have failed in many instances to meet these demands.

With the foregoing and other considerations in view, the present invention contemplates the provision of terry cloth of a variety of improved characteristics wherein novel effects are provided and novel purposes effectively served.

The invention, accordingly, comprises fabrics which possess the characteristics, properties, or relations of elements, and the interrelation thereof, all as exemplified in the accompanying drawings and in the following detailed disclosure, the scope of the application thereof being indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of fabric embodying the invention, with the front of the fabric .on top;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the fabric of .Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view athe line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view rthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another form of fabric .embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic front view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view along the line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional viewalong the line .88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of one :form of knitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 9a is a detail view of the needle operating cams for the machine in Fig. 9;

Fig. 9b is another detail view like that of Fig. 9a;

Fig. 10:; is diagrammatic view illustrating a step in the operation of a needle and sinker in the formation of the fabric of Figs. 5-8;

Fig. 105 is a similar view illustrating a corresponding step in the operation of an adjacent needle and sinker;

of the fabric along of the fabric along "atent O Figs. 11a and 11b are similar views of a later stage of the operation;

Figs. 12a and 1212 are similar views of a later stage of the operation;

Figs. 13a and 13b are similar views of a later stage of the operation;

Fig. 14a is a similar view of a later stage of the operation; 1 J I Fig. 15a is a similar view of a later stage'of the opera-' tion;

Figs. 16a and 16b are similar views of a later stage of the operation;

Figs. 17:: and 1712 are similar views of a later stage of the operation;

Figs. 18a and 18b are similar views of a later stage of the operation;

Fig. 19 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of another form of knitting machine embodying the invention and adapted to produce the fabric of Figs. 5-8; i

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic front view of another form of fabric embodying the invention; I 1

Fig. 21 is a horizontal sectional view. along the line 21-21 of Fig. 20;

Figs. 22-26 are diagrammatic views illustrating respectively successive steps in the formation of the fabric of Figs. 20-21 on a machine of the character exemplified in Fig. 9;

Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic front view of another form of fabric embodying the invention;

Fig. 28 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 2.8-4.8 of Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified form of sinker and a step in the use thereof in the formation of fabric in Figs. 28-29;

Fig. 30 shows a later step;

Fig. 31 shows a later step;

Fig. 32 shows a later step;

Fig. 33 shows a later step;

Fig. 34 shows a later step;

Fig. 35 shows a later step;

Fig. 36 shows a later step;

Fig. 37 shows a later step;

Fig. 38 is a front view of still another form of fabric embodying the invention; 7 v i Fig. 39 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 3939 of Fig. 38; I

Fig. 40 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a step in the formation of the fabric of Figs. 38-39 on a machine;

of the character exemplified in Fig.9;

Fig. 41 shows a later step; 1

Fig. 42 shows a later step;

Fig. 43 shows a later step;

Fig. 44 shows a later step;

Fig. 45 is a diagrammatic rear view of one form of design fabric embodying the invention; Y

Fig. 46 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of a form of machine similar to that of Fig. 9 arranged for selective sinker operation; i

Fig. 47 is a top view of the portion shown in Fig. 46;

Figs. 47a and 47b are detail views showing needles and sinkers in two different positions in the machine of Fig. 46;

Fig. 48 is a transverse sectional view of another form of machine similar tothat of Fig. 9 arranged for selective sinker operation; 1 i I Fig. 49 is a schematic view of another form of design fabric embodying the invention;

Fig. 50 is a schematic sectional view along the line 5050 therethrough;

Fig. 51 is a schematic view 'of still another form Fig. 55 is a side view of another form'of sinker embod'yf ing the inventioninone of its aspect's.

Patented Dec. 18, 1956 In Figs l-4 there is exemplified one form of terry fabric embodying the invention. This fabric comprises yarn 10 which is jersey-knit into a base fabric, terry yarn 1-1: which: is caught. betweent the needle loops in one row and the sinker loops in an adjacent row in alternate wales, andadditionalterry yarn 12 which is worked into the fabric by having sinker terry loops 13 drawn out at the front of the. fabric between Wales. The yarn 11.is drawn out into terry loops 14 at the back of the fabric between. the Wales. in: which it is caught. As exemplified, the yarn 11 is caught in different wales in different rows, being caught in theodd -numbered wales of every other row and the even-numbered wales of intervening rowsin'. the present instance;

Inthe formof' fabric shown in Figs. -8, a yarn 20 is jersey-knit into a base fabric, a yarn 21 is plated therewith but. is drawn out: into sinker terry loops 23 at the back of the fabric, andv a yarn 22 is caught into the fabric in alternate wales between needle loops in one row and sinker loops in an adjacent row, and is drawn out between these wales to provide terry loops 24. at the front of the fabric;

In Figs. 9, 9a and 9b,- there is exemplified a form of knitting machine adapted for use in the production of the fabric of Figs. 1 and 5. As will be seen from Fig. 9, this machine comprises a needle cylinder 100 which, in the present instance, is stationary and about which revolves a cam ring 102. The cylinder is formed with slots 105 in which latch needles 106 are slidably mounted. Some of the needles are formed with short, wide butts 107a and others with long narrow butts 1071. Each needle has a shoulder 108 formed in the shank a short distance below the open latch.

Carried on the cylinder is a sinker bed 109 on which special terry sinkers 110 are mounted for sliding movement pursuant to the rotation of a sinker cam ring 111. The sinkers are formed with butts 112 and the sinker cam ring is formed with a plurality of cams for moving all the sinkers in and out in known manner, including a retracting cam 118 shown in Fig. 9. Each of the sinkers is formed with a plurality of notches or slots (three in the present instance), main slot 120, an upper (terry) slot 121, and a lower (terry) slot 122. It is to be noted that the slot 120 is considerably deeper than the slots I21 and 122. As shown at 122, the slot 120 dips downwardly toward the rear so that, as the sinker advances, a yarn received by this slot will be drawn down to a lower level and will form a comparatively short loop, as for the fabric loops, while yarn received by the slots 121 and 122 will form longer loops, as for the terry loops.

There is mounted on the cylinder, a fabric-lift element 125. This fabric-lift element 125 maintains the fabric at about the level of the lower horizontal edge of the slot 120, which is the normal fabric level. The fabriclift element is, in the present instance, formed on a ring 123 the upper portion of which is slotted to guide the inner end of the strikers, and which forms an annular rim 126 serving to retain the cylinder inserts 127 which provide the needle slots 105 therebetween. Screws 128 secure the ring 123 in place.

In order to feed yarn to the needles, there are provided three yarn feeds (see Figs. a to 18a, and 10b to 18b), a yarn feed 130 whereby body yarn such, for example, as the yarn 20, may be fed at the normal level of slot 120 in the present instance, a yarn feed 131 whereby yarn such as the terry yarn 21 may be fed on the level of the slot 121, and a yard feed 132 whereby yarn such as the terry yarn 22 may be fed on the level of slot 122. The sinkers are cut low as at 133 to facilitate passage of the yarn feed 132.

As is shown particularly in Figs. 9, 9a, and 9b, the cam ring 102 carries cams 135a and 135b for raising needles with butts 107a and 1071;, respectively, to two different levels; a cam'136a for lowering the butts 107a a short distance; a cam 137a for again raising the butts 107a; a'cam 138 for thereafter lowering both types of needles and cams 139a and 13% for retracting all needles to knitting position.

For the sequential operation of the mechanism of Fig. 9 for the formation of a fabric such as shown in Fig. 5, reference may be made to Figs. 10a to 18a which show successive stages in the operation of a needle 106a and an associated sinker a in the knitting of the oddnumbered wales, in which the. yarn 22 is caught, and to FigslOb to 18b which show corresponding stages in the operation of a needle 1061) and an associated sinker 11% in the knitting of the even-numbered wales. The needles 106a for the odd-numbered wales have the short wide butts 107a, and the intermediate needles 106b have the long narrow butts 107b. It should be understood the two types of needles may be arranged in larger alternating groups with the same or different number of needles therein.

In Figs. 10a and 10b,.the needles 106a and 10612 are in fully retracted position having been retracted by cams 139a and 139!) to form, the plated loops of main yarn 20 and rear yarnv 21 in combination with, the rear terry loop 23 and front terry loop 24. In Figs. 11a and 11b, needle 106a has been raised to an intermediate position by cam 107a, needle 10612 has been raised to clearing position by cam. 107 b, and the new loops have been raised to normal fabric level by the upward movement of the needles. In Figs. 12a and 12b, the front yarn 22 is being. fed by yarn carrier 132 over the low cut edge. 133 of the sinker slot 122, the sinkers being partly retracted. In Figs. 13a and 13b, the sinkers have. been advanced to force the front yarn inside the needle row by the bottom of slot 122. In Fig. 14a, needle 106a is shown slightly lowered as by cam 136a to pass the front yarn over the hook so that in Fig. 15a the needle may be raised outside the front yarn into casting position by cam 137a. Thus, as shown in Figs. 16a and 16b, the front yarn, for the purpose of being inlaid in the fabric as shown in Pig. 5, lies alternately inside and outside the needles and above and below the last formed loops, respectively, when the main yarn carrier passes. The sinkers have again been retracted to permit the carrier 130 to pass and feed yarn over the horizontal edge of slot 120, and the needles have been lowered sufficiently to permit the yarn to be fed above the tip of the open latch. In Figs. 17!! and 1712, the sinkers have been further retracted to permit yarn carrier 131 to feed rear yarn 21 to the slot 121. In Figs. 18a and 18!), the sinkers have begun their inward movement to tighten the back yarn 21 in slots 121 and the main yarn in slots 120, so that the needles may be lowered to knitting position by cams 139a and 13%, as shown in Figs. 10a and 10b, while the sinkers continue their inward movements, thereby forming a normal length fabric loop and longer back loops and front loops, the length of the three sinker loops being determined simultaneously by the relative locations of the bottoms of the slots 121, 120, 122 with respect to the retracted needle hook.

The form of construction exemplified in Fig. 19 is, except as hereafter indicated, generally similar to that of Fig. 9, similar parts being indicated by similar reference numerals distinguished by the subscript a.

It is to be appreciated, of course, that many of the arrangements exemplified heretofore and hereafter are interchangeable and that, because of particular form of mechanism is shown in one form of construction, it is no less applicable to other forms of construction.

In this form of construction, the fixed fabric-lift element 125 is omitted, but the sinkers 110a are cut low at leaving humps 1 51 on their inner ends the tops of which are at the normal fabric level. The hollowed-out portion provides space for the front terry yarn to be fed under the fabric, and to insure that it gets into a lower throat 12%. The weight of the hanging fabric draws that portion of the fabric which lies above the sinkers taut so that it is maintained on the level of the horizontal edge of the middle slot 120a."Only certain of the sinkers in the present-instance are formed with short butts 112a, and other of the sinkers are formed with long butts 112b. Cams 117a and 117b are provided for advancing the sinkers with short and long butts respectively. In this manner, yarn such as 21 may be formed into sinker terry loops as at 23 at those points where the sinkers have long butts 11% but will not have terry loops formed therein at points where the sinkers have short butts 112a.

In the form of fabric shown in Figs. 20-21, main yarn 170 is knit into jersey-loops, rear terry yarn 171 is plated therewith in the needle loops, and drawn out into rear sinker terry loops as at 173 and terry yarn 172 extends around the needle loops and is drawn out into front sinker loops as at 174.

Such a fabric may be formed by the use of sinkers 110a and other mechanism of the general character exemplified in Fig. 9 except that the usual type of needles, without shoulders 108, are employed. Means to hold the fabric on a normal level are provided. Such means may comprise an annulus 125 as exemplified in Fig. 9. But, as exemplified, the sinkers have hollowed-out portions 150 and humps 151 forwardly thereof, as shown in Fig. 19, The sinkers in the present instance are provided with a lower slot 122a and a slot 120a above it. The slot 1200 dips downwardly at the rear as shown at 177. I

In the formation of the fabric of Figs. 202l, a front terry yarn 172 (see Fig. 22), which has been fed by a yarn feed as it passes through the hollow 150, is entering the slot 1220. As shown in Fig. 23 a main yarn 170 is entering the slot 120c, the sinkers having advanced so that the yarn 172 is held within the slot 122C. As shown in Fig. 24 rear terry yarn 171 is shown above the sinker, the sinker having een advanced so as to draw out-loops of the front yarn 172, and to move the main yarn 170 down into the dip 177 of the slot 120s. As shown in Fig. 25, the needle has been retracted, drawing out loops of the yarn 171 over the top of the sinker and knitting loops of the main yarn 170 and rear terry yarn 171. As shown in Fig. 30, the needle has been advanced so that the previously formed loops have cleared its latch.

In the form of fabric exemplified in Figs. 27-28, there is provided main yarn 190 wherewith back yarn 191 is knit in alternate courses and drawn out to provide rear terry loops 193, and wherewith front yarn 192 is incorporated in the intermediate courses and is drawn out to provide front terry loops 194.

In Figs. 29-37 there is exemplified a modified form of sinker and needle and a manner of formation of the fabric of Figs. 27-28 thereon. The needles 106d are formed with a wide shank terminating in a shoulder 108d, and the sinkers 110d have notches 197 serving the purpose of the dips 177 enabling the upper nib and the major portion of the upper throat of the sinker to be dispensed with.

In Fig. 29 the needle is shown raised. It is to be observed that the shoulder 108d has lifted the fabric loops to a level above the nib 199 of the sink-er. A front yarn 192 is shown as it is fed in line with the sinker throat 122d. As shown in Fig. 30 the sinker has moved forward to bring the nib 199 between the fabric loops and the yarn 192. As shown in Fig. 31 the needle is moving downwardly so as to catch in its hook a main yarn 190 which has just been fed. In Fig. 32 the needle is shown fully retracted. The fabric loops extend into the notch 197 and the new loop of the main yarn 190 extends between the bottom of this notch and the hook of the needle. Terry loops 194 are being drawn out by the sinker. The needle is then advanced again to clearing position as shown in Fig. 33 and the sinker withdrawn for the introduction of a main yarn 190 at a lower level in line with the throat 122d, as shown in Fig. 34, the needle having been retracted slightly to bring the tip of the latch'below thislevel. It will be noted that the fabric loops in this instance are at this level rather than 'at the upper level in which they are shown in Figs. 31, 32, and 33. The

sinker is then advanced, and a rear-yarn19 1is then intro-1 duced on an upper level as shown in Fig. 35. The ad-:

vance of the sinker at this time is halted at a point such that, as shown in Fig. 36, terry loops 193 will be drawn out over the nib 199 of the sinker instead of being seated in the notch 197 as was the main yarn in Fig. 32. Fig. 37 shows the needle moving up and the sinker moving back to the position of Fig. 29. 1

In the form of fabric exemplified in Figs. 38-39 main yarn 200 is knit to form jersey loops, rear terry yarn 201 is plated therewith and drawn out into terry loops 203, front terry yarn 202 is, in the present instance, also plated therewith and is drawn out to form front terry loops 204.

A manner of forming the fabric of Figs. 38-39 by mechanism of thegeneral character exemplified in Fig. 9 and including sinkers e is shown in Figs. 40-44. The needle is moved to fully-advanced position and then partially retracted so that the fabric loop is under the,

latch. As shown in Fig. 40, the front yarn 202 is fed above the tip of the latch in line with the throat 122e. As the sinker moves forward, its nib 199e moves under the fabric supported by the hump 151e, and a main yarn 200 is fed above this nib as shown in Fig. 41. Fig. 42 shows the main yarn 200 seated in the dip 177e, the front yarn 202 drawn out to form a sinker terryloop 204, and the back yarn 201 being fed beneath the needle hooks. In Fig. 43 the needle is shown fully retracted with all three newly introduced yarns pulled thru the old loops. The terry loops 203 and 204 are still on the sinker. In Fig. 44 the needle is shown fully advanced, and the sinker ready to be retracted to the position in Fig. 40.

In Fig. 45 there is shown a form of fabric similar to that of Fig. 38 except that the front yarn is plated in one course and the rear yarn in another course, and that the rear yarn is wrap yarn appearing only in a design portion of the fabric. As exemplified, main yarn 205 is knit into jersey loops, and front yarn 206 is plated therewith in alternate courses and is drawn out into sinker terry.

loops 207. A wrap yarn 208 is knit in one direction (forward) to form two plated loops 209 in .a course intermediate two of the courses where the front yarn 206 is plated, and is drawn out into a rear terry loop 210. It is inlaid in the opposite direction, and is then knit in the forward direction to form four plated loops 211 in the next course but one, and is drawn out to form three rear terry loops 212; it is again inlaid in the opposite, direction, and then knit in the forward direction to form six plated loops 213 in the next row but one, and is drawn out to form five rear terry loops 214. In this manner, one end of p a diamond-shaped design, the apex of' a trinangular design, the head of a spear, or the like, can be formed in terry design yarn. Control of the needles to form such designs may be effectuated in any well known or suitable manner.

Sinker control for the formation of this and other terry design fabrics may be effectuated by the use of mechanism such as shown in Figs. 46, 47, 47a, 47b, and 48. The mechanism as exemplified is similar to that shown in Fig. 9 except that one or more pattern wheels 220 are provided for the selective control of the deposit of a yarn in either of two sinker slots, for example slots and 121 When the sinker is selectively moved forward, as shown in full lines in Fig. 46, the rear yarn 21 will be fed into the slot 121 so that, when the sinker is further advanced, a terry loop will be formed, as indicated at Fig. 47a;

whereas, when the sinker remains in its retracted posi-- tion, the rear yarn can be drawn down into the main yarn slot 120 so that it will be plated with the main .yarn loops. The pattern wheel is formed with the usual teeth 222 which mesh with edges 223 on the body of the sinkers or the sinkers even in fairly fine gage machines, the sinkers 

